Jurors convict woman of public assistance fraud

LOS ANGELES - A 30-year-old woman accused of stealing more than $70,000 in public assistance funds was convicted last week of multiple felony counts and faces eight years in prison.Jurors deliberated about six hours before convicting Mishianand Mack, of Coolidge, Ariz., on one count each of obtaining aid through misrepresentation and grant theft of childcare funds, plus three counts of perjury. Jurors also found true that Mack stole more than $65,000. She was acquitted of three other counts of perjury. Mack is expected to be sentenced March 14 and may receive more than eight years in prison. While living in San Bernardino County, Mack - once a Los Angeles resident - continued receiving public assistance aid from the county by falsely claiming that she lived in Los Angeles, prosecutors said. Los Angeles County taxpayers funded Mack's public assistance aid from 2001-07 - Mack relocated to Arizona in July 2006.

********** Published: March 3, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 46